1. First ever fringe

NFYFC will be hosting its first fringe event at the Oxford Farming Conference this January. The session, entitled – Will there be a next Generation? is being hosted with the Rural Youth Project and will discuss the future for young people in rural communities and working in agriculture. Find out more.

2. Engage in agricultural discussions

Enjoy an agricultural debate in Derbyshire at this two-day event that also involves a farm walk around the Chatsworth Estate. Put the 9-10 Feb in your phone calendar now and book your place here.

3. Become a YFC trainer

If an agri debate isn’t your thing, then perhaps an opportunity to become a qualified trainer is more for you? From 9-10 Feb we’ll also be hosting a training weekend at Mount Cook Adventure Centre in Derbyshire for YFC members to become YFC trainers. It means you’ll be able to deliver Curve training in your County and get an ITOL certified qualification to boot. Find out more here.

4. Shear savings

British Wool is offering a saving of more than 50% off its Blue Seal training course in 2019. Book your place before 31 March to make the most of this amazing opportunity.

5.Let me entertain you

The national finals of the Entertainments competition will take place in Leamington Spa on 11 May. Make sure you’re there to cheer on your Area team in the final.

6. Strictly exciting competitions

The popular Ballroom Dancing competition is back on the agenda in 2019 and we’ll be watching our whirling couples in the final on Competitions Day in Staffordshire. We will also be treated to YFC members' vocal talents in our national Choir competition during the same weekend.

7.Going, going, gone

Auctioneering will be a brand new competition in 2019 where competitors need to value and auction three lots. Hammers will be dropping at the national finals in Staffordshire on 6 July.

8.See the world

If you’re tempted by the YFC Travel stories you see on social media, then why not apply for an adventure in 2019? Trips will be advertised in September so start thinking about your dream location now.

9.Save £££s

Take advantage of NFYFC’s affinity deals and make savings on top brands – from magazine subscriptions to clothing and days out. Don’t miss out on exciting offers only available with your YFC card.

10.Look to the future

A new group of YFC members will be making exciting plans in 2019 as part of NFYFC’s Vision:2023 strategic review. This is the next stage in NFYFC’s strategic plan that will help re-shape the Federation.

Young people will share their views on whether the next generation feel positively about the future of agriculture and rural life at a fringe event at the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) on 2 January at 4pm.

The closed session – Will there be a next generation? – is being hosted by The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) and the Rural Youth project (RYP). Sponsored by KUHN, the event will focus on the needs, challenges and aspirations of young farming and rural people.

The event comes off the back of a recent Rural Youth Project survey that found 72% of young people living in rural locations feel optimistic about their future, despite the challenges of transport, access to services, employment and connectivity.*

Facilitated by Farmers Weekly columnist and OFC Director Matt Naylor, the session will involve young people sharing positive experiences of being involved in the industry. There will also be an open debate to discuss the future opportunities and what the NFYFC and RYP are doing to encourage greater engagement from young people.

This will be the first time that NFYFC has hosted a fringe event at the OFC, despite YFC members always attending the event through scholarship places. This year Amy Panton from Cumbria FYFC, who attended the Rural Youth Project Ideas Festival in 2018, and Lee Pritchard from Glamorgan FYFC are recipients of two YFC scholarship places through the Worshipful Company of Farmers. Both YFC members will also take part in the fringe event.

Colin Ferguson, a former member of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs and its AGRI and Rural Affairs group, will also take part in the fringe event. Colin, a dairy farmer from the west of Scotland and now part of RYP, sits on the NFU Scotland Next Generation committee and is attending the OFC as an Emerging Leader.

James Hutchinson (pictured), Chair of NFYFC’s AGRI Steering Group and a member of Wiltshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, said:

“This fringe event promises to be a lively debate about the future of young people in our farming and rural economies. As well as research findings, we will hear from young people involved in the sector, who will share insights to the challenges they face and the aspirations they have.

“We are looking forward to hosting this event with the Rural Youth Project and exploring ways that we can encourage more young people to be excited about investing their future in the industry and rural life.”

Jane Craigie, co-founder of the RYP said: “The Rural Youth Project aims to support and galvanise young people aged 18-28 to create meaningful change in their rural communities by improving their leadership and enterprise skills.

“We kicked off the project by surveying over 750 young people and were really heartened to discover that 71% of young people living in rural locations feel optimistic about their future despite the trio of woe of poor connectivity, limited employment options and poor access to housing. We are currently planning the next two years of activities, which include leadership training, a series of learning journeys and multiple Ideas Festivals in the UK and further afield.”

Kate Bennett, KUHN’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator, said:

"KUHN are really excited to be supporting NFYFC and the Rural Youth Project with this fringe event at the Oxford Farming Conference. This session promises to be a highlight at one of the most respected conferences of the year as young farmers will share their experiences and challenges of trying to forge a career in the industry today. KUHN are proud supporters of NFYFC's AGRI Steering Group as part of our commitment to backing the next generation of farmers."

The Fringe Event, Will there be a next generation? is from 4pm on Wednesday 2 January 2019 in Room 11 at the Oxford Farming Conference.

* The Rural Youth Project survey was conducted between January and June 2018. It collated the opinions of over 750 young people living or working in rural areas both in the UK and in Australia, Canada, Sweden and the United States.Initiated by Jane Craigie Marketing (JCM), with other industry partners, including NFYFC, in the UK and Europe, to find out more about the opinions and attitudes of 18-28-year-olds with a view to informing wider industry and policy-makers and consequently to support the future of young people in the rural economy. Copies of the report can be downloaded at www.ruralyouthproject.com.

What do you do when your Club only has four members left? Re-build it of course! Well, that’s what Bridgnorth YFC in Shropshire did and they’re celebrating a bumper Christmas with a membership of 36! After two nights carol singing with tractors decorated in tinsel they raised nearly £1,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. We caught up with Secretary Rebecca Joynt to find out how they got their YFC back in action

1. What made you want to keep going?

We are the oldest club in the county and that swayed a lot of people to stay loyal rather than joining another club

2. How did you grow the club?

There’s a core group of five committee members that are taking a lot of the responsibility. In 2017-18, we had 29 members and won the accolade of being the club that had grown the most, however a lot of them didn’t re-join this year. Our president has done a wonderful job of getting in touch with lots of friends and they have dragged their kids along! Roughly half of our members are juniors. We have really promoted the club events online, with roadsigns and in the paper and have found a new venue.

3. How are you aiming to keep members on board this year?

We’ve really pushed and asked members what activities they want to encourage them to come back. We make a monthly programme and publish it in advance. We also guided two junior teams to enter the county Speaking and Reading competitions – putting on rehearsals so they felt confident and they won the Reading! And their parents were really impressed with the atmosphere/encouragement with other clubs on the day so they’re keen to push their children to do more. The parents have been the key to success with our juniors.

4. Where do you meet?

We now meet at the town’s livestock market. The idea came as the county meetings are held at the Shrewsbury market. Three of our members work at Bridgnorth market so it was easy to get permission and they’re keen to be seen to be supporting the club. We meet 7.30pm on Mondays (but not always at the market). General meetings are the first Monday of the month and we aim to run two nights a month ourselves. We try to combine activities with other clubs to host a few events in a month.

5.How important is the club to the local community?

Shropshire is such a close community of YFC, past and present members. It means you can go to other events and nearly always see a friendly face.

6.What do you recommend other clubs do that are struggling for members?

Stick at it! It’s about getting the right people on the committee with enthusiasm for it. Also definitely worth finding connections with previous generations.

The Muck Boots story began in 1999 as they set out to create a boot with the sole purpose of enabling those who live, work and play in the most challenging conditions to perform at their highest level, undeterred by the elements.

Muck Boots make premium products born from necessity, not luxury. Every boot in the line keeps you in your comfort zone with 100% waterproof quality. Waterproof, weatherproof, whatever-proof. Muck Boots put proof in every pair!

If you’re in need of a pair of quality, comfy boots, then put your best foot forward and enter NFYFC’s Christmas competition to be in with a chance to win!

HOW TO ENTER

On the competition posts on Facebook and Instagram, just leave a comment on the post stating where you will wear your Muck Boots if you were to win a pair! You'll need to respond before 18 December 2018.

T&Cs

You must be a registered YFC member on the NFYFC database to win a pair of Muck Boots through this competition.

There is one pair of women’s boots to win and one pair of men's boots, up to the value of £110. The winners can choose the style they prefer.

There is no cash alternative

Winners will be asked to provide a comment and photo to be used on social media.